Dude Ranch Vacation: 9 Reasons to Book One as a Family

Last weekend, my family and I had our very first Dude Ranch experience.  I am, after all, a born & bred Texan, (my kids are too) - they needed to experience a vacation on a Dude Ranch - and a Texan one at that.

We spent 3 full days at the Mayan Ranch in Bandera, Texas.  While we were there, I was overwhelmed with all the reasons why every family should take a dude ranch vacation at least once.  And I was kicking myself for not taking one sooner.  Here are all those reasons - and I hope they will convince you to book a Dude Ranch trip as soon as possible.

9 Reasons to Book a Dude Ranch Vacation

Dude Ranches Encourage Unplugging 

While on the Mayan Ranch, I was compelled to not be on my phone.  I wanted to breathe in the quietness and completely unplug from the world.  With the exception of taking a few photographs, we all stayed off our phones.  The kids left their electronics in the cottages (without mom asking) and we took advantage of the time we had, not distracted by gadgets in our hands.  We barely even turned on the TVs in our cottages, as we wanted to be out exploring the ranch.

Dude Ranches Specialize in Family Time

One of my favorite parts of our weekend, the 5 of us got to "play" together.  We rode horses, played shuffleboard, learned how to line dance (yes, even Dad!), shot BB guns, and took hayrides together.  One evening, the Ranch put together "Family Games"  with some of the most creative group games we have ever played. Our time together wasn't forced, at any time we could have relaxed back in the cottage, but we were having so much fun together, no one wanted to.  It was good, quality family time together - and that seems so precious now a days.

Dude Ranches are All Inclusive

When you stay at a dude Ranch, your cost includes meals,  drinks, activities, and overnight stays.  It is nice to pay one fee up front and not worry about hidden costs throughout the vacation. Most dude ranches have activities and amenities (pool, hot tub, game room) and snacks as well.

Horseback Riding is King at a Dude Ranch

Most people visit a dude ranch to experience life as a cowboy.  What better way then in the saddle on a nice mosey around the property.  Wranglers at dude ranches will match your horseback riding experience with the perfect horse and will offer daily (sometimes more) rides.  We found this type of horseback riding was the most relaxing and enjoyable we had ever experienced.

Unmatched Hospitality at a Dude Ranch

Most dude ranches are working ranches, owned by families who invite you to share their property with them.  Everyone is kind and patient and there to make sure you are having a wonderful time.  We encountered people who were passionate about the Mayan Ranch, as they had grown up there, and were so friendly and unpretentious.

Try Something New at a Dude Ranch

Dude Ranches offer you the opportunity to try something you new that you never have before.  On our trip, we took a few hayrides, learned how to shoot a BB gun, learned archery and ate almost every meal outside.  You can find working dude ranches, where you get put to work and can see what it takes to be a cowboy.  

Dude Ranches Serve Hearty Food

I didn't quite expect to be as blown away by the food as I was this past weekend.  And from what I hear, dude ranches offer hearty meals 3 times a day.  From amazing cowboy breakfast cooked over a fire under a grove of trees to an amazing t-bone steak meal under the stars, this family ate very well at the Mayan Ranch.  Everything tasted delicious and was made from scratch.  I can't vouch for other dude ranches, but if they have experienced chefs in the kitchen, you know the meals are going to be delicious.

Meet New Friends at a Dude Ranch

We loved meeting the other guests who were staying at the Mayan Ranch with us.  All meals and activities are done together, so you get to meet people from all over the globe.  We met a sweet family from Denmark who was on a 2 week fall holiday and a high-speed train engineer and his wife from England.  It was fascinating sharing meals with people from other parts of the world who were just as curious about your lifestyle as you were about theirs.

A Dude Ranch = Quiet

And my favorite thing about the Mayan Dude Ranch.  The quiet. No road noises, no obnoxious video game sounds, no phones ringing, nothing.  Except laughter - my children's sweet laughter as they play with their Dad.  And I could listen to that "noise" all day.

We truly had a special experience this past weekend at a Dude Ranch.  I was sad to leave and return to the real world, that says it all doesn't it?

I haven't been to any other Dude Ranch but the Mayan Ranch - I can't say enough good things about it!

Disclosure: The Mayan Ranch invited my family to stay for 2 nights.  I was not paid to write this article. All opinions (especially the mushy ones) are my own).

Sleep Under the Sea at Omni San Antonio at the Colonnade's Aquatica Suite ~ San Antonio, TX

What's the coolest, most fun way to visit SeaWorld San Antonio & Aquatica??  By staying the night in the Omni San Antonio at the Colonnade's Kid's Aquatica Suite!  My family and I were recently invited to stay a few nights in the newly opened suite and let me tell  you, they DID NOT want to leave!

Design

After a full day at Aquatica, we were overwhelmed at how well this room compliments the actual park.  Designed by a student at the Art Institute of San Antonio, Omni & SeaWorld partnered to bring it to life.  You can't imagine the excitement your children will express upon walking into the room for the first time.

The floor is painted as a sandy beach, the ceiling has black lights with a wavy texture and the walls are covered in coral, giving you the sensation of being "under the sea".  The WOW factor on these effects are off the chart. The Aquatica map, height chart and aquarium that stretches from the bathroom to the bedroom finish out the full Aquatica theme.   Even the stuffed animals, the books, the toys all had a sea theme.

Amenities

One of the highlights of the suite for my children included the 2 TVs with both a Wii U & Playstation and DVD Player.  The suite comes with a variety of games & movies - most of which my children have not played or seen yet.  And there are age-appropriate games and toys for the little ones. 

I love the warm cookies & milk that are brought to the suite each evening - just another little touch that was appreciated.

Parent's Comfort

And where do the parent's sleep? Right through the porthole door is a quiet oasis.  Seriously, it's so quiet and relaxing to walk into your own suite.  The parent's side has both a sitting area that has a couch that folds out into a queen size bed and a bedroom with a king.  As expected, Omni provides a wonderfully comfortable bed.

And as minor as this may sound, one of my favorite programs that Omni Hotels provides is the morning coffee service.  Place your coffee order outside the door at night and they will bring it up at your requested time with a gentle knock on the door.  Coffee in bed that I didn't have to get up to make was heavenly.

Kid-Centric Hotel

We stayed at the Omni San Antonio at the Colonnade 2 years ago in their Kid's Fantasy Suite and I was really impressed by some of the changes I noticed to make this hotel more kid-friendly. Obviously, the addition of another suite helps bring families to the hotel, but there are other amenities that are nice.  During the summer, they offer Dive in movies each weekend night in the pool.   This hotel has both a heated indoor and outdoor pool, fully equipped exercise room, and a spa for full massages and facials.

The Kid's Suite comes with breakfast for the entire family at Bolo's Restaurant which offered a terrific buffet.

There is something so special for the kids to be able to sleep in these incredibly designed rooms.  It's everything they could want in a bedroom but more.  And it's a break from the typical hotel room - they deserve it!

Take a full tour with my daughter:

The Omni San Antonio at the Colonnade Aquatica Suite runs from $359 to $499.

Some fun things to do while you are in San Antonio:
Top 5 Things to do in San Antonio
10 Tips to Visit SeaWorld's Aquatica

Take a Cruise down the River Walk

San Antonio Zoo

San Antonio Children's Museum

SeaWorld San Antonio

San Antonio's Tower of Americas

Natural Bridge Caverns

Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch & New Tower Creek Addition

Morgan's Wonderland

San Antonio Children's Museum

Texas Travel Facts for Omni San Antonio at the Colonnade:

Location: 9821 Colonnade Blvd., San Antonio, TX 

Good to Know: Outdoor lap pool and indoor heated pool; Workout facility; complimentary self-parking and valet; Located minutes from Downtown, the River Walk, SeaWorld San Antonio, and Six Flags Fiesta Texas

Website:http://www.omnihotels.com/FindAHotel/SanAntonio.aspx

Disclosure: My family & I were invited to stay at the Omni San Antonio at the Colonnade Kid's Aquatica Suite.  I was not compensated for this article. All opinions are my own. 

10 Tips for SeaWorld San Antonio's Aquatica ~ San Antonio, TX

I have always been a big fan of SeaWorld San Antonio.  I think their park is educational, fun, and great for all the ages of my kids.  But when it came to visiting their water park, Aquatica, I thought "what's the point?  I'm sure it's just a tiny little park to cool you off." And for the past 2 years, I focused all my time spent there on the SeaWorld side.

I couldn't have been more wrong.

Luckily, my friend talked me into going to Aquatica with our kids last week and I was blown away with how much there was to do!  My 5 year old is a beginning swimmer (finally without his floaties!) and I loved that there were many smallish slides for him to enjoy.  My big kids were left satisfied too with a giant wave pool, several high-speed tube rides and a lazy river that goes into a bird aviary.  we all had such a good time that I was kicking myself for not coming sooner.

In fact, we liked it so much, we went back that Sunday to ride more rides.  With a little planning, we accomplished more and I wanted to give y'all some tips in case you go.

So I wanted to convince y'all of 2 things when it comes to Aquatica:

1. Yes, it is absolutely worth the additional ticket price to get into Aquatica.  You have to pay admission into SeaWorld and then Aquatica (2 prices).  Or if you are reading this in August 2014 and have a season pass, take advantage of their "Bring a Friend Free" promotion.

2. It is possible to do both Aquatica & SeaWorld in one day and I can show you how:

Here are 10 Tips for SeaWorld San Antonio's Aquatica

1. Get to the parks 30 minutes before they open.  By the time you park, haul your stuff out of the car, wait in line to get into SeaWorld and then wait in line to get into Aquatica, it will be opening time.  We arrived at 10 am and rode all the rides we wanted to at Aquatica by 11:30 am.

Seriously folks, 7 water rides in an hour and a half because there were no crowds. Take a look at this picture at 10:00 am

And the same spot at 12:00 pm

2. Pick a group of chairs when you arrive.  Grab a spot where you want your central location to be  and lay out a few towels.  In the 2 days were were there this past weekend, no one touched out stuff.  Everyone was very respectful of the lounge chairs.  There are lots (I mean LOTS) of chairs all over the park to choose from. You can even go back by Roa's Aviary for a quiet spot if you like.

3. Ride Stingray Falls first.  This ride's line consistently grew as the day progressed.  It's a really cool ride that goes under the stingray tank so it is not to be missed.  Go first when their is little to no wait because it's a popular one!

4. Go in the morning to Roa's Aviary.  Lucky for us, we visited this new attraction in the morning when the birds were hungry.  When you are there, you can get a free cup of food to feed the birds.  On the second day we visited, by the time we got over to it, all the birds were full and not coming anywhere near us.

5. Rent a Locker.  For complete peace of mind, lock up your iPhone and wallet.  It initially costs $18 but get $10 back when you return the key.

6. Animal Encounters all over the park.  Just like in SeaWorld, Aquatica is full of animals to get to see up close.  Make sure to take the time to pet the stingrays (and you can go in the water with them for an additional fee), see the giant tortoises, and gorgeous birds.  You may catch an animal handler walking around with an animal too.

7. No need to bring floaties or PFD for children - they have plenty all over the park.  I loved that I could put one down in one area of the park and grab another on the other side.  There were always plenty to choose from.

8. Splurge & Rent a Cabana - If you want to go all out, you can rent a cabana for the whole day.  It has comfy chaise lounges and a ceiling fan.  And it comes with a waiter - closest thing to being at a resort on the beach you get in Central Texas.

9. Cashless Wristband.  There are a great way to not worry about having cash or a credit card with you when you want to purchase something.  I saw lots of people with these wristbands and they all said it worked great.

10. Bring your GoPro and capture some sweet movies.  The real reason we went the second day was to take out GoPro camera with us on the slides.  We got some terrific footage like this:



I hope I have convinced you to give Aquatica a try - with the animals and wide variety of slides, you can certainly spend all day there. But if you only have one day to do both parks, get to Aquatica right when they open. You will have most of the fun done by mid-afternoon which gives you hours left to go ride your favorite rides and see your favorite shows at SeaWorld San Antonio!

Disclosure:  I am a member of the SeaWorld Wildside Blogger team and have been provided with season passes to SeaWorld & Aquatica.  I was not paid for this article. All opinions are my own.

SeaWorld San Antonio August Deals

SeaWorld San Antonio & Aquatica have some fan pretty fantastic deals going on this last month of summer.  If you haven't had a chance to get down to spend the day at either of these parks, how's this for motivation??

Sesame Street Breakfast:

Start your day at SeaWorld with breakfast with Elmo and all his Sesame Street friends. Think of all the fun picture opps!!  Receive a FREE child’s reservation with the purchase of a full-paid adult reservation. Available through August 17, 2014.

Dine with Shamu: 

How much fun would it be to have lunch with Shamu?  You are in your own private area that is usually reserved for SeaWorld trainers too!  Receive a FREE child’s reservation with the purchase of a full-paid adult reservation. Available through August 22, 2014 (excludes Saturday reservations).

Aquatica Splash Pass:

Each SeaWorld Texas Fun Card holder and SeaWorld Texas Annual Pass Member can log on to PassMemberUpdates.com with their barcode to purchase (1) $15 Splash Pass for unlimited visits to Aquatica through the end of the 2014 season. Once they purchase and print their Splash Pass, they will not have the option to purchase any more. Available for purchase through September 1, 2014.

Bring a Friend FREE to both parks!

SeaWorld + Aquatica Fun Cards/Annual Passes & Platinum Passes Members  can log on to PassMemberUpdates.com with their barcode and print one (1) FREE single day admission ticket for a friend to visit both SeaWorld AND Aquatica on the same day (Must be purchased and redeemed by August 24, 2014).

Additionally, Pass Members can SAVE $25 on tickets for friends and family! Login now through August 16, 2014 to purchase these discounted tickets. Limit 6 per order. Does not include Aquatica, SeaWorld's Waterpark™.

If you are planning to go, make sure you check out my friend's great list of tips for SeaWorld too!

Other Fun Articles on SeaWorld San Antonio:
10 Fun Ways to Get Wet at SeaWorld San Antonio

SeaWorld San Antonio's Aquatica
SeaWorld San Antonio - Know Before You Go!
SeaWorld San Antonio - The Animals!
SeaWorld San Antonio - The Rides!
SeaWorld San Antonio - For Kids!

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Summer Kids Fun at JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa ~ San Antonio, TX

JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa have so many FUN programs for kids this summer that I can't wait to try out.  Along with fun theme nights, Little Passports, an educational subscription service for kids, offer a new Texas learning experience at the resort.

Geared towards kids ages 5-12, Little Passports follows globetrotting characters Sam and Sofia as they travel the world on a GPS enabled scooter. Originally designed as a home subscription service, a customized Little Passports activity will now be exclusively offered to JW Marriott San Antonio guests through the resort’s Range Riders Kids’ Club.

Participants will receive the Little Passports - JW Marriott San Antonio Edition journal featuring the geography, history, and points of interest of Texas and the beautiful Hill Country.  Each of the 24 pages in the interactive guide is designed to teach, challenge, and entertain young explorers. The Little Passport experience is complimentary and will be offered on Saturdays and holidays to resort guests ages 5-12 years old throughout the 2014 summer season.

And can I suggest a Date Night?  JW Marriott San Antonio has begun Kids Night Out for the summer of 2014!

Kids Night Out is offered through the resort's Range Riders program, seven nights a week from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.  Dinner is included and it is available for ages 4-12. C.ost is $65 per child
Program includes themed nights with age appropriate games, interactive activities, crafts and ends with a movie.  Your night could include a leisurely walk around beautifully manicured grounds as you head to your reservation at the resort's delicious and highly respected steakhouse, 18 Oaks, and end with a nightcap and a view of the Texas stars.

Here are the themes:

Sunday -Lift off Space Adventure.  Special crafts and activities include homemade playdough making, space monster puppets, Aliens vs Monsters Flag Tag, and space themed movies.

Monday - Kids Sports Night.  Activities include Team Flag Tag, volleyball and sports themed movies.  Crafts include kid made team pennants, key chains and sand art.

Tuesday –Lights, Camera, Action: Hollywood Night.  Kids can enjoy their own premier night and walk the runway and their fun finery.  Activities will include pin the tail on the Hollywood donkey, a disco dance- off, paparazzi picture frame craft and a glitzy themed movie.

Wednesday -Sweet Candy Kids Night.  Perfect for a sweet tooth, our candy inspired night will feature kids’ art creations with our Pucker Powder Station, candy sushi class, candy necklace making, and a candy flower craft.  The night will finish with a sweet movie ending!

Thursday -Under the Sea Kids’ Night.  Kids will set sail on an island adventure for the evening. Activities will include the seaweed limbo, bubble contest, and mermaid race.  Creative crafts will include the chance to make a message in a bottle, build a crab and dream up a jelly fish.

Friday – Wild West Kids Night.  Howdy Partners!  Let’s all mosy up for a night of western fun.  Activities will include the Texas Tangle, Howdy Rowdy Rodeo, Texas Tater game, and the Wild West Water Showdown.  Country crafts will offer bandana making, cowboy hat decorating and lucky horse shoe art. As the sun sets we will celebrate with a kid cowboy classic movie.

Saturday – Super Hero Night.  Welcome super kids!  To get started, participants will make capes and masks. Activities will include a super hero obstacle course, super hero bingo, icon puppet making and puppet theatre.  The night will be rescued by a super movie.

We love the JW Marriott San Antonio for a get-away as the parents get to relax and the kids get to play and with fun experiences like Little Passports, there is always something new to try. Check out the 10 Reasons to Stay this Summer here. 

For 2014, the newest activities also include GoPro® camera rentals, Booty Barre ® and Get Golf Fit exercise classes, concierge-assisted wine tours, Little Passports®, Prima Ballerina and Giddy Up Cowboy experiences at the Range Riders Kids’ Club, and much more.

4th of July Fireworks in San Antonio ~ 2014

Bring on the Fireworks displays!!  Here is your list of the BEST Firework Shows in San Antonio for 2014:

Boerne Fourth of July Fireworks:  Fireworks show Details here (FREE) July 4, 2014 at 8:00 pm

Fiesta Texas July 4th Celebration: Special time for 4 rides to be open before the park opens and special performances through out the day. A fun day at Six Flags concludes with fireworks.  Details here. (park admission) July 4, 2014 at Dark

New Braunfels HEB July 4th Spectacular: Concert & fireworks show Details here (FREE) July 4, 2014 at 9:15 pm

San Antonio 4th of July Celebration: Full day of family fun & fireworks at Woodlawn Lake Park. Details Here July 4th, 2014 at 9:30 pm

Schertz Jubilee: 2 day event that features a 5K, parade, and family fun. Details here (FREE) July 4, 2014 at 9:15pm

SeaWorld 4th of July Celebration: Along with your admission for the day, enjoy a firework show over the lake Details here (park admission) July 3 & 4, 2014

Stars & Stripes Over San Antonio: Music, Kids Zone, Food Truck and more at this evening celebration that ends with a great fireworks show. Details here ($2 admission per person) July 4, 2014 around 9:30 pm

If you have any Fireworks Displays to add to our list, please feel free to leave them in the comments or email me.

10 Tips to a Great Time at Schlitterbahn ~ New Braunfels, TX

Schlitterbahn is unlike any other waterpark out there. That said, to make it an awesome day at Schlitterbahn, it's good to be prepared with a few helpful tips.

We went last week, and though I have been many times, I still was able to pick up some tips I wanted to share with you for your next trip!

10 Schlitterbahn Tips

Schlitterbahn Tip #1: Get to the parks right when they open and start at Schlitterbahn East. We arrived a little before 10:00 am and pulled right into the parking lot.  They had not opened the gates so we had a chance to apply sunblock.  We like to go to Surfenburg to start to catch lines when they are small - especially for the Master Blaster & WolfPack, which tend to become hour-long waits later in the day. 

Schlitterbahn Tip #2: Grab a table in the shade when you first arrive and set up base camp. Great thing is there's lots of shade all over Schlitterbahn! There are lockers available, but we tend to just leave our stuff out - no one has ever messed with it. A base camp makes it easier to find everyone and have a meeting place. 

Schlitterbahn Tip #3: Don't leave your little ones at home! There are so many fun kid-sized slides for them all over the park! I have taken my youngest to Schlitterbahn since he was 2 and I have always found something for him to play on.  From Pirate Ships with soft slides to water structures that spray, it has helped build his confidence to try the bigger stuff with his siblings.  Take a look at an article I wrote last year about why you should take toddlers to Schlitterbahn.

Schlitterbahn Tip #4: No need to bring a puddle jumper or water wings for the little ones! They provide life jackets and tubes for all sizes! 

Schlitterbahn Tip #5: Bring a cooler filled with food to eat on all day!! Eat healthy and save money by pack a cooler full of drinks and food.  Here are some ideas of what to take:

• homemade sandwichs (make them ahead of time)
• individual chips/snacks (saves wet hands getting into the chip bag)
• cut up fruit
• pre-made salad
• drinks in cans or plastic bottles (no glass or alcohol)
• homemade desserts (rice krispie treats are a favorite)
• paper plates, napkins, utensils
• rolling cooler

Schlitterbahn Tip #6: Check out the Cabanas you can rent at Surfenburg! They have private areas to relax away from the crowds at all of the parks now. So this may not be a tip- more of an FYI - Had I known about them, I would have reserved one in advance.  It's perfect for big parties or families!

Schlitterbahn Tip #7: Spend the morning at Surfenburg & Tubenbach and then head over to Schlitterbahn West in the afternoon. The Original Park has tons of shade trees and the water is cooler because it's river water. There just seems to be more space to play and longer water rides - perfect place to spend the hot afternoon.

Schlitterbahn Tip #8: Set a time to all meet back at a central location/ base camp. We learned this valuable lesson when our 2 boys didn't come back for a few hours. Make sure someone in the group wears a watch and you all set a time to meet. 

Schlitterbahn Tip #9: Sunscreen & Water Shoes are your friends. Lots of sun and lots of walking - protect your skin & your feet!

Schlitterbahn Tip #10: Make a weekend out if it by staying on property at one of the Treehouses. When you stay at the resort, admission to parks is included for both days for your family and you get the first hour of the park to yourself!

Before you go, check out my Top Ten Reasons to go to Schlitterbahn this summer post.

Other great things to check out in New Braunfels:

Top 10 Reasons to Go to Schlitterbahn

Natural Bridge Caverns

Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch

Natural Bridge Caverns Canopy Challenge & Zip Line

McKenna Children's Museum

Snake Farm

Landa Park Aquatics Complex

The Gristmill

Texas Travel Facts for Schlitterbahn:

Location: 305 West Austin Street, New Braunfels, TX

Hours: Summer Schedule Varies- click here 

Admission: Ticket Prices vary - online or at HEB is your best bet. There is a deal at Simon Malls - get 2 tickets for $85 and you get a $25 Simon gift card - makes the tickets on $30 each.  Call before heading to the mall - they only have a limited amount.

Recommended Time: ALL DAY!! 

Good to know: Sunscreen it up - lots of unshaded areas; bring a cooler (no glass or alcohol); lockers are available for valuables; get there early; weekdays during the summer are less crowded

Website:http://www.schlitterbahn.com/nb

Disclosure: My family and I were invited to visit the water parks and were provided admission. I was not financially compensated for this post.  All opinions of the Schlitterbahn are strictly my own based on my experience. 

Tower Creek at Natural Bridge Wildlife Park ~ New Braunfles, TX {A Giveaway}

Have you been to the Natural Bridge Wildlife Park recently?  I mean, who doesn’t like a big Zebra kiss like this in your car window??

Actually, the zebras are usually my family’s favorite animals to see in the park – up until now that is. With the opening of the Tower Creek, there is a whole new area of fun to discover.

Recently, my family and I were invited to tour the new Tower Creek, new home to the Ranch’s growing giraffe population.  This 50+ acre extension is home to 7 new to the ranch animal species.  You can now see Impala, Zebu, Grant’s Gazelles, Sable Antelope, and African endangered species Nile Lechwe, Arabian Oryx, Dama Gazelle, and Bongo Antelope.  Impressive right?

The Tower Creek is nestled down a steep hill that crosses over the Cibolo Creek.  Descending the hill is really fun, as you can see the 31,000 cubic feet of limestone that was milled from the bluff (that’s enough to cover a football field, 18 feet deep yall!).  The limestone was recycled & repurposed to develop the two-lane road that goes through Tower Creek, which is 2 miles long.

The day we visited, the giraffes were a little shy, as were most of the animals in Tower Creek.  They looked at us from a far, eyeing us warily.  This was in February and the trainers said it may take a few weeks for the animals to get used to the cars traveling through.

Most of the animals can freely roam the Tower Creek enclosure, but the giraffes are still surrounded by a metal fence.  Currently, there are 3 giraffes here.  There are still a few at the entrance, including the giraffe twins who were born here in May 2013.  Did you realize we had a set of giraffe twins living in Central Texas? In fact they are the ONLY living set of giraffe twins in the US!  And they are adorable.  One guy was being chased by a turkey when we saw him and he was so funny!

We love visiting the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch – we love to see the different animals up close, love to feel their hide and horns when they come up to the car to lick a snack up from your palm.  It is such a cool way to interact with the animals. And remember those zebra that were giving us "kisses" I mentioned earlier - check out why in the below video:

~ GIVEAWAY ~

I can’t wait to visit the Tower Creek addition again, to see this group of 7 new species up close again. And you can too! Natural Bridge Wildlife Park has given me 4 tickets to give to one lucky person.  Use the Rafflecopter below for entries.

Contest begins on Monday, March 25, 2014 and lasts through Friday, March 28, 2014 at noon.  Winner will be randomly selected and notified by email.  Winner will have 24 hours to acknowledge or another winner will be selected. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Texas Travel Tips to visit Natural Bridge Wildlife Park:

• Buy an additional bag of food other than what they give you, you can never have too much!
• Go around at least 2 times – it’s a completely different experience each time you go
• Go in the morning – like opening time – it’s when the animals are most active
• If you wait and go in the afternoon, especially when it gets hot, chances are you will not see very many animals, as they are napping in the shae of the trees
• Have patience.  If there is a line of cars, it’s because there is something cool to see up ahead – you will get your turn.
• Take a picnic and have lunch on the grounds or eat in their on-site grill.
• The Tower Creek has a lovely picnic area and will be offering unique sweet treats to purchase
• Take hand-wipes or sanitizing gel to keep hands clean before and after feeding the animals

Location: 26515 Natural Bridge Caverns Road, San Antonio, TX

Hours: Daily: 9 am with seasonal closing times (closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve & Christmas Day)

Admission: Adults (12 & up): $17.50  Children (3-11): $9.00 

Recommended Time: 2 -3 hours 

Website:http://www.wildliferanchtexas.com/

My family and I were invited to visit the ranch and were provided admission. I was not financially compensated for this post.  All opinions of the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch are strictly my own based on my experience. 

Other great things to check out in New Braunfels:

Top 10 Reasons to Go to Schlitterbahn

Yes! You Can Take a Toddler to Schlitterbahn

Natural Bridge Caverns

Natural Bridge Caverns Canopy Challenge & Zip Line

McKenna Children's Museum

Snake Farm

Landa Park Aquatics Complex

The Gristmill

Best Holiday Light Displays in San Antonio, TX ~ 2013

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in San Antonio! Here is your list of the BEST Holiday Lights in San Antonio for 2013:

Walk-Thru/Drive-Thru Displays:

Santa's Ranch: Nightly drive-thru light ranch 6 pm - 10 pm (Sun-Thurs) and 6 pm - 11 pm (Fri-Sat)  ($24/car)

Santa's Ranch, San Marcos, TX

San Antonio Riverwalk: The Riverwalk is completely lite up thru Jan 6. Enjoy nightly caroling on the river boats through Dec 22 (6:30 -9:30) (free)

San Antonio Riverwalk

Christmas in Cuero: Town sets up dozens of illuminated displays & live nativity. Nightly thru January 1 6 pm - 10 pm (free)

Cuero, TX

Light the Way: Over one million lights are use in the campus trees.  Nightly thru January 6 (free)

University of Incarnate Word

Home Displays:

Windcrest Light Up:  Starting December 15, nightly 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm thru December 31.

Windcrest

Shavano Park:  Many homes light up brilliantly for the holidays. Nightly thru December 31.

NW Military Hwy & De Zavala, San Antonio, TX

Fun Holiday Events:

Wintery Wonderland: Sea World is open at 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. through December 31. Live shows include A Dolphin Christmas at the Beluga Stadium, Elfred sing-alongs with Santa and Mrs. Claus, Elmo's Christmas Wish, and Clyde and Seamore's Countdown to Christmas.

Sea World San Antonio

Holiday in the Park:  Six Flags Fiesta Texas features everything from Santa's Castle, the Rockville Dickens' Carolers to cookie decorating, and the Magical Musical Light Show and nightly Tree Lighting Ceremony through Dec. 23.

Six Flags Fiesta Texas

A Wonderland Christmas: A dressed up for Christmas, Morgan's Wonderland features Santa, carolers, a petting zoo and more. 5 pm - 9 pm Fridays & Saturdays thru Dec 23.

Morgan's Wonderland

Wow! There is a ton to see! Can you make it to them all?

If you have any Holiday Light Displays to add to our list, please feel free to leave them in the comments or email me.